Ipamorelin Dosage Guide: Protocols, Calculator & Safety
Everything you need to know about Ipamorelin dosing — protocols, safety, and where to buy.
Dose Range
100-300 mcg subcutaneous 1-3x daily (most commonly 200-300 mcg pre-bedtime); often combined with CJC-1295 without DAC at 100-300 mcg
Frequency
1–3 times daily; most commonly once at bedtime
Cycle Length
8–16 weeks; can be used long-term with periodic breaks
Half-Life
~2 hours (plasma)
Administration Routes
Quick Reconstitution Calculator
Calculate syringe units instantly
Syringe Draw
10.0 units
2500 mcg/ml · 0.100 ml draw
Dosing Protocols
Goal: learn the injection workflow and assess personal response before adding a stack partner.
Standalone ipamorelin — weeks 1-4
- Dose: 200 mcg subcutaneous, once daily
- Timing: Pre-bed, fasted (≥2 hours after last meal, no carbs before injection)
- Why fasted: Elevated insulin and blood glucose blunt the GH response to any secretagogue. A fasted window is non-negotiable for proper dosing
- Site: Abdominal subcutaneous fat, rotate sites (L/R of navel, ~2 inches from midline)
- Needle: 29-31G × 1/2" insulin syringe
- Reconstitution: 5 mg vial + 2 mL bacteriostatic water = 2.5 mg/mL; 200 mcg = 0.08 mL (8 units on a 1 mL syringe)
- Storage: Refrigerate reconstituted vial; use within 30 days
What to track (weeks 1-4)
- Sleep quality (subjective 1-10 daily)
- Morning recovery / soreness
- Appetite in the evening (ghrelin effect)
- Any head-heaviness, tingling, or injection-site reactions
Beginners should NOT:
- Combine with CJC-1295 / MOD-GRF 1-29 in week 1 (assess tolerance first)
- Exceed 200 mcg per injection
- Inject pre-workout or after meals
At week 4, reassess: if tolerated well, progress to the intermediate stacked protocol. If poor response (no sleep improvement, minimal subjective effect), review injection technique and consider the intermediate protocol with the GHRH partner — which is where the real GH pulse amplitude comes from.
Goal: exploit the GHRH × ghrelin synergy for maximal pulse amplitude. This is the standard biohacking configuration.
Ipamorelin + MOD-GRF 1-29 (CJC-1295 without DAC) — 8 weeks
- Ipamorelin dose: 200 mcg SC
- MOD-GRF 1-29 dose: 100 mcg SC (same injection — they can be drawn into the same syringe)
- Frequency: 2x daily (pre-bed + morning fasted) OR 1x daily pre-bed
- Timing windows:
- Pre-bed: 2+ hours post-meal, within 30 min of lights-out — amplifies the natural nocturnal GH pulse
- Morning fasted: immediately upon waking, 45-60 min before first meal — second pulse timed against low insulin/glucose
- Optional pre-workout: 30-45 min before training, only if post-meal >2 hours (many users drop this dose because peri-workout injection can blunt the training-induced GH pulse)
Why 2x vs 1x daily
- 1x daily (pre-bed) = the conservative, sleep-focused protocol; most reported benefit for recovery and sleep
- 2x daily (pre-bed + morning) = the "body composition" protocol; ~30% higher steady-state IGF-1 but also higher fluid retention
Cycling — 8 weeks on / 4 weeks off
The conservative default. Mechanistically, ipamorelin + MOD-GRF 1-29 do not produce the sustained receptor occupancy that drives tachyphylaxis, but the off-cycle supports:
- Baseline HPA axis integrity
- Insulin sensitivity recovery
- IGF-1 washout
Bloodwork
- Baseline: Fasting glucose, HbA1c, IGF-1, testosterone, PSA (men >40), CBC, comprehensive metabolic panel
- Week 4: Fasting glucose, IGF-1
- End of cycle: Full panel
Flags that require dose reduction or cessation
- IGF-1 above the age-adjusted reference range upper limit (generally >250 ng/mL in adults 30-50)
- HbA1c rising >0.3 points within one cycle
- Persistent peripheral edema or carpal tunnel symptoms
- Fasting glucose consistently >105 mg/dL
Goal: maximize GH pulse density within the physiologic envelope. For experienced users with baseline labs and a longitudinal monitoring plan.
Tri-daily ipamorelin + MOD-GRF 1-29 — 8-12 weeks
- Dose per injection: 100-200 mcg ipamorelin + 100 mcg MOD-GRF 1-29
- Frequency: 3x daily
- Injection 1: Morning fasted (immediately upon waking)
- Injection 2: Midday (45-60 min before lunch, fasted ≥2 hours)
- Injection 3: Pre-bed (2+ hours post-meal)
- Rationale: Each injection produces a discrete GH pulse; 3x/day roughly mimics the natural ~3-5 pulse/day frequency of the adult GH rhythm
Alternative advanced configuration: ipamorelin + tesamorelin
Tesamorelin is a 44-amino-acid stabilized GHRH analog FDA-approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. It has longer GHRH-receptor occupancy than MOD-GRF 1-29 and produces a more durable GH pulse. For visceral fat-focused protocols:
- 100 mcg ipamorelin SC + 2 mg tesamorelin SC, once daily pre-bed
- Stronger effect on visceral adiposity than MOD-GRF 1-29; higher cost; prescription-grade in the US
Stacking with exercise
The peri-workout dose is controversial. Training itself produces the largest endogenous GH pulse of the day (especially resistance training and HIIT); adding ipamorelin pre-workout can blunt this via negative feedback. Most advanced protocols skip the peri-workout injection or place it ≥4 hours from training.
Cycling considerations
- 12 weeks on / 4-6 weeks off is the upper-end biohacking protocol
- Long-term (>6 months continuous) dosing is not well-characterized in healthy adults — users doing this should monitor bloodwork monthly, not quarterly
- Full HPA and IGF-1 washout on the off-cycle helps confirm no tachyphylaxis or insulin-sensitivity drift
Contraindications specific to advanced dosing
- Any active malignancy (GH/IGF-1 axis may accelerate tumor growth)
- Active diabetic retinopathy
- Severe insulin resistance or uncontrolled T2DM
- History of acromegaly or pituitary adenoma
Weight-Based Dosing
Commonly Stacked With
Tier 1 — The "must-stack" pairing: CJC-1295 / MOD-GRF 1-29 at 100 mcg per ipamorelin injection. This is the canonical GHS stack. Same injection, same syringe. Without this pairing, ipamorelin produces a real but modest GH pulse; with it, the pulse is 3-5x larger and the protocol becomes meaningfully anabolic (Bowers et al., 1991).
Tier 2 — Synergistic body-composition stacks:
- Semaglutide or Tirzepatide — for users on GLP-1 therapy pursuing body recomposition, ipamorelin + MOD-GRF 1-29 preserves lean mass during the caloric deficit. Time the GH secretagogue pulse opposite to the GLP-1 peak to avoid compounding appetite effects
- BPC-157 + TB-500 — the "healing stack". GH/IGF-1 elevation accelerates collagen synthesis that BPC-157 and TB-500 enable. Particularly useful for tendon / ligament rehab
- Testosterone (TRT) or clomiphene — the HPG and GH axes are complementary; combined use is the standard in integrative hormone optimization clinics
- NAD+ / NR / NMN — mitochondrial co-factor support for the protein-synthesis demand created by elevated IGF-1
Tier 3 — Advanced / selective stacks:
- Epithalon — longevity-framed stack combining GH axis amplification with telomere / pineal support
- GHK-Cu — skin / connective tissue regeneration synergy
DO NOT stack:
- Other ghrelin-receptor agonists (GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin, MK-677) — redundant at the receptor; no additive benefit; stacks the side-effect burden (GHRP-2/6 elevate cortisol and prolactin)
- Exogenous recombinant GH (Somatropin) — defeats the purpose; somatropin directly replaces GH, bypassing the pituitary pulse mechanism ipamorelin enables. Use one or the other
Timing alignment: Ipamorelin and MOD-GRF 1-29 can be drawn into the same syringe and injected together — the peptides are chemically compatible in BAC water for the brief period between draw and injection. For multi-compound stacks (ipamorelin + MOD-GRF + BPC-157), use separate injection sites — BPC-157 is dosed differently (often daily) and benefits from local rather than systemic delivery.
Side Effects & Safety
Contraindications
**Absolute contraindications** - **Active malignancy** — GH and IGF-1 are trophic factors for multiple cancer cell lines. While ipamorelin-specific cancer data does not exist, the GH/IGF-1 axis is implicated in colorectal, prostate, breast, and hepatocellular cancer progression ([Renehan et al., 2004](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15070898/)). Do not use during active cancer treatment or within 5 years of complete remission without oncologist clearance - **Known or suspected pituitary tumor / acromegaly** — superimposing exogenous secretagogue on an already-hyperactive somatotroph axis can accelerate tumor growth and precipitate acromegalic complications - **Active diabetic retinopathy** — GH elevation can worsen proliferative retinopathy; absolute contraindication until retinopathy is stabilized - **Pregnancy or breastfeeding** — no safety data; do not use - **Age <18** — no pediatric safety data; pediatric GHD is managed with prescription GHRH analogs (sermorelin) under endocrinology supervision, not biohacking protocols **Relative contraindications (consult physician before use)** - **Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes** — GH elevation impairs insulin sensitivity; use requires careful glucose monitoring and may accelerate progression in borderline cases - **Uncontrolled hypertension** — fluid retention can exacerbate blood pressure - **History of carpal tunnel syndrome** — fluid retention and connective tissue expansion can worsen symptoms - **Hypothyroidism** — thyroid status affects GH axis; optimize thyroid first - **History of pituitary or hypothalamic surgery or radiation** — altered GHRH/ghrelin receptor status; unpredictable response **Drug interactions** - **Insulin and oral hypoglycemics** — ipamorelin's effect on glucose tolerance may require dose adjustments of antidiabetic medications - **Corticosteroids** — chronic systemic corticosteroids suppress the GH axis and blunt ipamorelin response - **Recombinant GH (Somatropin)** — redundant; do not combine - **Other GHS peptides** — do not stack (see stacking notes) **Monitoring requirements for users** - **Baseline labs:** Fasting glucose, HbA1c, IGF-1, complete metabolic panel, CBC, PSA (men >40), full thyroid panel - **4-6 weeks into dosing:** Fasting glucose, IGF-1 (confirm within age-appropriate range) - **End of each cycle:** Full panel; look for HbA1c creep, PSA changes, IGF-1 elevation above age-adjusted ULN **Discontinuation criteria** Stop ipamorelin and consult a clinician if you develop: - Persistent peripheral edema or facial swelling - New or worsening carpal tunnel symptoms - IGF-1 levels >300 ng/mL (supraphysiologic in most adults) - Fasting glucose persistently >110 mg/dL or HbA1c rising >0.4 points - Any new palpable mass, changing mole, or unexplained weight loss (cancer workup indicated) - Severe headache, visual changes (rule out pituitary pathology)
Additional Notes
Standard therapeutic range: 100-300 mcg SC per injection, 1-3x daily.
Dose-response is roughly linear from 50 mcg to 300 mcg IV (Gobburu et al., 1999). Above 300 mcg, GH pulse amplitude plateaus while side effect burden (fluid retention, hunger, paresthesias) rises. More is not better past ~300 mcg per injection — run more frequent smaller pulses instead if you want higher total exposure.
Fasted state is non-negotiable. Elevated insulin suppresses GH release through multiple mechanisms (increased somatostatin tone, reduced somatotroph sensitivity). Post-meal dosing can reduce GH pulse amplitude by 50-70%. The two reliably fasted windows:
- Pre-bed (2+ hours post-meal, evening meal finished by 7pm for a 9pm injection)
- Morning wake (before first food)
Dose scaling by goal
- Sleep and recovery focus: 200 mcg pre-bed, 1x daily, no stack partner required (though MOD-GRF 1-29 amplifies effect 3-5x)
- Body composition: 200 mcg + 100 mcg MOD-GRF 1-29, 2x daily (pre-bed + morning fasted)
- Connective tissue / injury recovery: 300 mcg + 100 mcg MOD-GRF 1-29, 2-3x daily, often stacked with BPC-157 and TB-500
Dose conversions
- 5 mg vial + 2 mL BAC water = 2.5 mg/mL (2500 mcg/mL)
- 100 mcg = 0.04 mL = 4 units on a 1 mL insulin syringe
- 200 mcg = 0.08 mL = 8 units
- 300 mcg = 0.12 mL = 12 units
See the Reconstitution Tool for any vial size / BAC water combination.
Interactions with nutrition
- Carbohydrates and protein both elevate insulin, blunting GH response
- Caffeine does not interfere and may amplify the SWS effect
- Alcohol suppresses GH secretion independently and synergistically blunts ipamorelin effect — avoid within 4 hours of dosing
Where to Buy Ipamorelin
Compare 4 listings across 2 vendors — from $24.99
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the recommended Ipamorelin dosage?
The typical dose range for Ipamorelin is 100-300 mcg subcutaneous 1-3x daily (most commonly 200-300 mcg pre-bedtime); often combined with CJC-1295 without DAC at 100-300 mcg. It is usually administered 1–3 times daily; most commonly once at bedtime. Always start with the lowest effective dose.
How often should I take Ipamorelin?
1–3 times daily; most commonly once at bedtime
Does Ipamorelin need to be cycled?
Yes, typical cycle length is 8–16 weeks; can be used long-term with periodic breaks.
What are Ipamorelin side effects?
Ipamorelin has the **cleanest side-effect profile** of any ghrelin-receptor agonist, which is why it dominates modern biohacking protocols. The profile is driven by (a) selective GHS-R1a agonism without cross-receptor activity, and (b) acute GH elevation (the same side effects any GH-secretagogue produces). **Common (>10% of users, usually mild and transient)** - **Injection site reactions** — erythema, pruritus, mild pain; resolves within hours, mitigated by injection site rotation and proper reconstitution technique - **Mild fatigue or head-heaviness 10-30 min post-injection** — thought to reflect the acute GH pulse; typically subsides within an hour - **Transient hunger / appetite increase** — direct ghrelin-receptor effect on hypothalamic feeding neurons; much less pronounced than GHRP-6 because ipamorelin's shorter duration limits tonic appetite stimulation - **Vivid dreams or altered sleep architecture** — usually a positive effect (deeper SWS); occasionally reported as disruptive in the first week **Uncommon (1-10%)** - **Water retention / mild peripheral edema** — dose-dependent GH effect; usually visible at doses >400 mcg per injection or >3 injections/day - **Transient tingling / paresthesias in hands** — early sign of water retention / peripheral compression; resolves with dose reduction - **Joint stiffness or achiness** — IGF-1-mediated; typically appears 2-4 weeks into dosing as steady-state IGF-1 rises - **Headache** — usually mild; typically resolves with continued dosing or hydration **Rare but important** - **Insulin resistance / elevated fasting glucose** — all GH-elevating therapies impair glucose tolerance; typically not clinically significant at biohacking doses (100-300 mcg) but can become measurable at >600 mcg/day or with prolonged use. Diabetics and pre-diabetics should monitor HbA1c - **Carpal tunnel symptoms** — fluid-shift-mediated; resolves on cessation - **Hypersensitivity reactions** — rare but documented; usually to a residual contaminant or preservative rather than ipamorelin itself **What ipamorelin does NOT do (in contrast to other GHS peptides)** - Does NOT elevate cortisol ([Johansen et al., 1999](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10194528/)) - Does NOT elevate prolactin (important for men concerned about gynecomastia on other GHS peptides) - Does NOT elevate ACTH - Does NOT affect gonadotropins (LH, FSH) or TSH - Does NOT cause the "mega-hunger" of GHRP-6 (tonic ghrelin activation) — the short duration keeps appetite effects transient **Long-term uncertainty** The ipamorelin evidence base is short-duration (max clinical trial exposure ~14 days in Beck 2013). Biohacking use at 200-300 mcg/day for 3-6 months is extrapolated from pharmacology, not validated. Unknowns include: - Chronic effects on insulin sensitivity - IGF-1-related cancer risk (the GH/IGF-1 axis is implicated in some epithelial cancers; no ipamorelin-specific data) - Pituitary somatotroph response to long-term dosing (tachyphylaxis is theoretical but not well-characterized) **Users should monitor**: fasting glucose, HbA1c, IGF-1 (baseline and 4-6 weeks), PSA (men >40). Cycle protocols (8 weeks on / 4 weeks off) are the conservative approach although the mechanistic need for cycling is debated.
Where can I buy Ipamorelin?
Compare 4 listings from 2 vendors on our price comparison page — starting from $24.99.
Free 2026 Peptide Cheat Sheet — 50 pages, PDF
Dosing, reconstitution, stacks, half-lives, and vendor trust tiers. The reference we wish we had on day one.